Base Station Antenna Orientation from Network Positioning Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the location and orientation of base station antennas are labor-intensive, costly, and impractical for large networks, especially in dense urban settings where line of sight is obstructed, and often rely on terrestrial surveying techniques that are cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method using network positioning protocols to determine the location and orientation of base station antennas by receiving measurement values from reference location devices, computing coordinate system transformation values, and applying these to improve the accuracy of position estimates for wireless nodes, leveraging existing positioning protocols and reference signals transmitted by base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If terrestrial surveying techniques are used to determine base station antenna location and orientation, then measurement precision may be adequate, but device complexity and labor requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna location and orientation accuracyVSAvoidsurveying equipment and procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical surveying techniques (theodolites, total stations, GPS receivers) with an electronic signal-based system. Base station antennas transmit electromagnetic signals that are received by user equipment, and the network server computes antenna location and orientation from these signal measurements, eliminating the need for physical surveying equipment and procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses existing wireless communication infrastructure to perform the surveying function. Base station antennas automatically transmit signals, user equipment automatically receives and reports measurements, and the network server automatically computes the results. The system serves itself without requiring external surveying personnel or equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual surveying methods are employed for large networks, then individual antenna measurements can be obtained, but productivity decreases due to labor-intensive processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna location and orientationVSAvoiddeployment speed for large networks

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated self-measurement where base station antennas transmit signals and numerous user equipment devices automatically receive and report measurements to the network server. This eliminates the need for manual surveying personnel and dramatically increases deployment productivity, especially for large networks with many antennas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring measurements from a minimum number of survey points, the system collects measurements from numerous user equipment devices that may far exceed the minimum required. This excessive collection of measurement data from multiple sources improves both productivity and measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If traditional surveying techniques are used in dense urban settings, then antenna location can be determined, but the process becomes impractical due to obstructed line of sight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna location accuracyVSAvoidfeasibility in dense urban environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces line-of-sight-dependent mechanical surveying with wireless signal-based measurement. User equipment receives signals from base station antennas through the existing wireless communication channel, which can penetrate buildings and navigate around obstacles, making the process feasible in dense urban environments where traditional surveying would be blocked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The wireless signal acts as an intermediary that can traverse through and around urban obstacles. Instead of requiring direct physical line of sight between survey equipment and antennas, the electromagnetic signals serve as mediators that can reach the antennas through buildings and around obstacles, enabling measurement in dense urban settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11811462B2Base station location and orientation computation procedure

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided for utilizing network positioning protocols to perform a base station location and orientation computation procedure. An example method of determining an orientation of a base station antenna with a network server includes receiving measurement values from a base station based on uplink reference signals transmitted by a plurality of reference location devices, obtaining location information for the plurality of reference location devices, and determining the orientation of the base station antenna based on the measurement values and the location information.